CANNIBAL COBRAS. 177 



Cobra and Mungoose Fight. 



Once whilst resting under some thick fohage one hot summer's 

 day, and hearing a rusthng noise, I peered carefully through the 

 dense curtain of leaves and saw in the glade about ten yards 

 distant from where I was, a Grey Mungoose {Mungos caffer) in 

 combat with a large Brown variety of Cobra. The snake was 

 erect, with hood expanded, keenly watching every movement of 

 its enemy, and so quick was it that the Mungoose failed to get 

 it at a disadvantage. Suddenly the wily Mungoose changed its 

 tactics, and instead of making feints, it began circling round the 

 Cobra with quick, springy movements. The snake turned round 

 and round, facing its enemy bravely, but eventually it either got 

 giddy or the muscles ceased to act, for it toppled over, and before 

 it could recover, the Mungoose leapt upon it and crushed its head 

 and neck between its sharp-toothed jaws. It then chewed off 

 the head, ate it, and began to dine off the body. 



Billy, the Meercat. 



I once had a tame Meercat known to my friends as " Billy." 

 This fearless little fellow would devour any snakes I threw to him. 

 Several times I threw live snakes down in front of him, which he 

 instantly pounced on and devoured. So quick were liis move- 

 ments that he even overcame and killed a fair-sized Ringhals 

 Cobra wliich I placed before him. He ran straight at it, seized 

 it by the head, crushed its cranium between his jaws, and bit it 

 severely along the vertebrae of the neck. Then he ate the head 

 and a portion of the neck. The skin of the Meercat is tough and 

 the fur dense, consequently it is rare for a snake to drive its fangs 

 fully home. 



Cannibal Cobras. 



If the Mamba is lord of the arboreal realms, assuredly the 

 Cobra reigns supreme over terra firma. He is ever ready for a 

 fight. He fears no foe but man. Even man has good cause to 

 be wary when tackling him. He will instantly face his enemy, 

 ready to deliver a thrust with his channelled fangs, which, if 

 driven home, leave behind them a fluid so potent that two 

 drops will kill the strongest man. Swiftly and powerfully it 



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